CBMA Statement on Alton Sterling

Once again we are forced to bear witness to the brutal killing of yet another Black American by police. This time that person is Alton Sterling: a husband, father and beloved member of his community who did not deserve to die at the hands of Baton Rouge law enforcement.

As with every other incident -- from Freddie, Sandra and Trayvon, to Rekia, Eric, and Tamir -- the state is not the only institution responsible for Sterling's death. Each media outlet that dehumanizes Black and Brown lives by promoting negative images and narratives to justify why they deserved to die, and every public figure that inflames racial division and animosity for political and/or economic gain, also played a role in their deaths.

For these reasons, it is crucially important that CBMA, along with our partners and allies, continues working to uplift our communities, and making the connection between the damaging perceptions perpetuated by mainstream media about Black men and women, and the utter disregard for their lives and humanity that they create as a result.

Our deepest thoughts and condolences are with Alton's wife, children, family, and community.

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